Q&A: The Dogs Today Think Tank

From the July 2014 edition onwards we're having a page of your questions in the magazine. If you have an interesting dog-related question you'd like answered please send an email to thinktank@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk

May issue

May issue

Thursday, 9 October 2014

Does anyone have any experience or advice they can share about their dog getting lumps on the spine?My rough-coated Lurcher has a solid hard lump on the tail end of her spine. Tests reveal only 'unidentified cells' within it, and her blood tests are normal. It doesn't cause her any pain despite growing steadily since January. She is happy, runs fast and is around eight to nine years old.
If the lump is removed, will it grow back? Has anyone had a scan done on a lump? I was quoted £2,500 for a scan – can a scan be done for less?

Her food is varied between cooked chicken and high-quality dried or tinned food. One theory of mine is that the growth hormone that chickens are fed has contributed to the lump.

Tuesday, 7 October 2014

My 30-month-old male dog started lunging and barking at some other dogs about six months ago. It is quite random so I never know when he is going to do it and it is hard to hold even in a front clip harness or head collar. The only thing I can think may have caused this was at about 18 months old he was chased, bowled over and bitten.

Before that he loved everyone - dogs and people! Having said that, he was always very respectful when approaching another dog even as a puppy. He was well socialized from a puppy and has never been frightened of vacuums, fireworks etc. But he now twitches when he is touched and I can no longer clip his nails, although he loves being groomed and stroked, when he realizes I am not going to do anything to him. He was also neutered at 10 months.

I take him to dog classes to rebuild his confidence with some lovely dogs and a good trainer, he does very well in class but if I try the advice outside in the real world it doesn’t work! He must give off a nervous vibe as, again quite randomly, some dogs will ignore my friends dogs and chase or snap at him, again I don’t know when this is going to happen, but if I see someone put their dog on a lead I take him out of harms way, but not everyone does.

Some advice I have been given is to get people to walk past at a distance, but he is fine with most dogs especially with my friends' dogs! I can’t go up to strangers and say, excuse me, can you walk your dog in front of my dog to see if he is scary! I take him to local fun dog shows and he is fine, happy to meet all the dogs and shows no sign of a problem, everyone there thinks he is lovely and he always wins rosettes.

If I see another dog on a walk and get him to sit and start feeding him treats, he gets agitated and starts looking around as if the treats are the trigger! I have started clicker training with him, he has taken to this well but this also doesn’t work in situ.

He is a very loving dog, amazing with children, obedient in the house, crate trained, clever, but, I am getting worn out and am constantly embarrassed and disheartened on walks. I try very hard not to tense up as I know I contribute to the tension!

Wednesday, 24 September 2014

I have a three-year-old neutered Golden Retriever.
Even though he is fed a good diet, his coat is like cotton wool!
I wondered if anyone could suggest anything to make it more silky and shiny - but not too high in calories as that is an issue also!

Friday, 12 September 2014

I have a rescued an eight-year-old male Bichon Frise and I have had him for three years. When I first got him he was unneutered so I had him neutered fairly quickly. He is very loving and a very good boy at home because he is very cuddly and doesn't wet in the house.

For three years he has been looked after at a dog sitters house where there are up to four other small dogs. He loves it there and is content.

But recently he has been lifting his leg and 'marker' weeing in certain places. Also he has been pestering a male dog for a lot of time during the day! He has never been bothered or interested in other dogs - until now!

I have tried using 'scullcap and valerian' tablets but they do not seem to work.

I have a German Shepherd bitch (Hope) who is about two years old, and recently bought two little pups (both girls, Nalah and Kitana) who are now nine weeks.

Hope is very maternal with the pups, and often keeps food aside for them and cuddles them to sleep.

Recently I've noticed Hope is nibbling Kitana all over her body, what does this mean? It's only ever Kitana, as she's the more playful one with Hope. Should we be worried about it? She's never hurt the pup, and the pup always goes back for more.

Monday, 8 September 2014

My German Shepherd has a pancreas problem, she takes panzym medication. I have been feeding her Burns chicken and brown rice but have just bought her new Oscar dog food complete dry food.

It is hard to say which food is best as each day her motions range from fairly solid to loose, and in fact, they can change within hours. My husband will feed her sausages and chicken slices as he doesn't think it's fair not to give her any meat, but I don't know whether I should carry on with the Burns food or swap to Oscar chicken and fish.

Monday, 18 August 2014

How do the seasons affect dogs?
Does their behaviour change depending on the season? Humans can get SAD (Seasonal affective disorder) where we feel more depressed when the days are longer, but can dogs suffer from a similar thing? And does day length affect them?

October still available as a back issue

September edition

August issue

July issue

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Still on sale as a back issue

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Inside the June issue

Why are show Labradors so chunky?Are microchips dangerous? Why not use tattoos or DNA ID?Meet the King of Kong. Do you know why they have that name?Say Bonjour to French Bulldogs as petsWant to feed raw? Help is at hand with our competition - 25 Natures Menu hampers to win!Do you spend your life getting dog hair off your clothes? Enter the Hairiest dog owner in Britain competition!Can you guess what first cross is on our cover?Ticked off with fleas? We tell you how to tell them to hop off!

Stiil available as a back issue from 01276 858880 or enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk

The May edition

In the May edition

The bare-naked truth about Crufts 2010

Political animals - dangerous dogs, scary solutions

Join up as a doggie volunteer

Maureen Lipman's yodelling dog

How to look fetching while fetching

Dogs Today Think Tank to the rescue

Kerry Blue Terrier Fido Facts

Perfect Pup - breed and health advice

On sale in WHSMiths, Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsburys - or by online by clicking on the cover or phone 01276 858880 during office hours.

Still available on back order

* Jemima Harrison sends an open letter to the Kennel Club* Does your MP agree with the Dogifesto?* Why is the RSPCA still using the captive bolt?* Goldendoodle Fido Facts* Win a one of three brilliant holiday breaks* Win 6 months of hypoallergenic dog food and a Miele vacuum* Pit Bulls - love them or hate them?Plus much, much more!

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March issue

In the March edition:

* The Bateson Report: A new dawn for dog breeding? * Hounds for Heroes: New charity launches * Widespread compulsion revulsion: Why Cesar Millan and the welfare world are talking through lawyers * Dr Ian Dunbar: Fresh writing from the guru on why you can't bully a killer whale...! * Oscar winning content: We look behind the scenes of top animated film Up! * Cockerpoos: What will a Cocker Poodle do for you? * Raw or top-notch prepared? Can quality match raw for results?Plus very much more...

Our first ever book!

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Or you can buy a copy direct from us for £7.50 including postage and packing. It is the most comprehensive guide to choosing your next dog, avoiding battery-farmed dogs and getting the early training bang on!It's glossy, substantial and includes meaningful vouchers that could mean you'll more than get your cover price back!To order on line click here.Phone 01276 858880 during office hours to order or send a cheque made payable to Pet Subjects Ltd and post it to Dogs Today, The Dog House, 4 Bonseys Lane, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8JJ - or complete the form on page 13 of the latest Dogs Today mag.(Overseas postage on application)

Sensitive subject
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I have an extremely fussy dog with a very delicate digestive system, is
there an alternative out there to expensive veterinary diets?
My vet only sells one...

7 years ago

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Did you know less than half of all pups make it to their 2nd birthday according to behaviour guru Dr Ian Dunbar. Make the right choices and beat the odds

February issue

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In the February issue...

* Puppy Contracts - could they stop puppy farming and bad breeding?* Positive training - Why Victoria Stilwell isn't a fan of pack mentality trainers* English Setters as pets* Greyhounds rescued from concentration-camp conditions* Food for thought - industry insiders plot the buying trends* New assistance dog that can 'smell' on Addisons* Fashion designer Ben De Lisi and his fabulous French Bulldogs* Win a bundle of doggie goodies including a new doggie bed!Click the cover to buy on line

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The Perfect Pup

At the back of every edition of Dogs Today magazine there is a huge section called The Perfect Pup - it is designed to look a bit like those mags you buy when you want to choose your next car as we've crammed in loads of info on life expectancy, health tests, grooming requirements etc which may help you navigate the minefield of selection.We also have the very strictest minimum standards you'll find with regards to puppies for sale.Only breeders who do all the health tests we consider essential are allowed to advertise their pups - and we allow them to do this free of charge in recognition and appreciation of their efforts.No one else has these minimum standards - and we're not jumping on a bandwagon here! We started insisting on health tests back in 1995 - giving free adverts to good breeders!Click here to buy the latest edition on-line postage free (in the UK), or to subscribe for more issues at a good discount.Join us in our constant campaign to save our pedigrees in peril.(Click here to read something I wrote for the Daily Telegraph a little while ago - we've been on full scale panic for a very long time!)